Paulie Walnuts
New Member
I keep flushing the fluid but it keeps getting contaminated. It's a murky green color. Could I have a leak in my power steering cooler??? Taking it out tomorrow and I just checked it and it was also low...
Contaminated Power steering fluid.
- Thread starter Paulie Walnuts
- Start date
Paulie Walnuts
New Member
Talked to my mechanic today. He said the coolers seldom spring leaks, but if I'm getting water in my fluid, and its the original cooler then its quite possible that its gone bad. He said for me to pull mine and bring it in and that he may have a good used one around the shop. I've seen them on eBay but being my mechanic is really good and close by, I think I'll try and get it from him. I prefer to put money in the pocket of the guy who services my boat instead of the guys out of state.
My mechanic used to work for Mercruiser before he opened his shop. He's the Grave Yard Cars of Mercruiser. LOL
My mechanic used to work for Mercruiser before he opened his shop. He's the Grave Yard Cars of Mercruiser. LOL
moparlvr4406
Active Member
- Jun 29, 2011
- 4,462
- Boat Info
- 1985 340DA
1966 SRV180
(2)1960 Sea Ray 600
(2) 1963 808 Cruise-a-bouts
- Engines
- twin 350hp Crusaders 4.0 Onan /
Merc 950 SS
Merc 650
Merc 1100
twin Johnson 40
my only input on the cooler would be...
would the P/S pressure not be higher...even on the return side...than the water pressure
feeding the cooler ??
it should be leaking fluid out and not water in.
I would be looking at the cylinder personally.
I had a trim tab pump full of clean clear water and no fluid and finally determined it was the tab cylinders and resealed them and the issue was fixed.
would the P/S pressure not be higher...even on the return side...than the water pressure
feeding the cooler ??
it should be leaking fluid out and not water in.
I would be looking at the cylinder personally.
I had a trim tab pump full of clean clear water and no fluid and finally determined it was the tab cylinders and resealed them and the issue was fixed.
Paulie Walnuts
New Member
Yes. I'm losing fluid too. And it's not going into the bilge so I'm thinking its going out in the water with the exhaust.
Paulie Walnuts
New Member
Been working on the boat too much. $$$
Today I decided to pull the power steering cooler and here what I got. First I checked the fluid. There was again a small fluid loss and it again was contaminated from last weeks outing. I disconnected the rear water line to the back of the cooler and this is what poured out.
After finally getting the cooler off I wiped it down. It was dented in a few spots but no visual sign of leaking. I even blew into the ps side and plugged a hole bit no air loss. My guess is that it's a really small hole and needs a lot of pressure to cause the leaking. And probably sucking in some water when the engine is either at high RPM or dropping back down to lower rpms.
Going to run it by my mechanics shop and see if he has a used one laying around.
Today I decided to pull the power steering cooler and here what I got. First I checked the fluid. There was again a small fluid loss and it again was contaminated from last weeks outing. I disconnected the rear water line to the back of the cooler and this is what poured out.
After finally getting the cooler off I wiped it down. It was dented in a few spots but no visual sign of leaking. I even blew into the ps side and plugged a hole bit no air loss. My guess is that it's a really small hole and needs a lot of pressure to cause the leaking. And probably sucking in some water when the engine is either at high RPM or dropping back down to lower rpms.
Going to run it by my mechanics shop and see if he has a used one laying around.
Last edited:
Paulie Walnuts
New Member
Got a newer used cooler today for $50. Got it on but didn't have time to run the motor and flush the old fluid out. That's tomorrow's job...